London, 1953. Scientists are on the verge of discovering what they call the secret of life: the DNA double helix. Providing the key is driven young physicist Rosalind Franklin. But if the double helix was the breakthrough of the 20th century, then what kept Franklin out of the history books?

A play about ambition, isolation, and the race for greatness.

Photograph 51 is the winner of the 2008 STAGE International Script Competition and was developed, in part, through the University of California, Santa Barbara's STAGE Project by the Professional Artists Lab (Nancy Kawalek, Director) and the California NanoSystems Institute.

To the layperson, this landmark photograph may not reveal much at all. To get a closer look, take a look at PBS/NOVA's animated explanation of "Photograph 51" and its significance.

To learn more about the fascinating history and science behind the play, check out the New Yorker article "Photo Finish" or the PBS documentary "Secret of Photo 51".

A newly discovered trove of letters from this era has revealed deeper insight into the people behind the race to discover the "secret of life". To learn more, read the New York Times article about this recent find.